Base-ball mask.



1 LAJCAK. BASE BALL MASK. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I916- RENEWED MAR. T- 1917- LQQQMOQW Patented Apr. 10,1917.

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JOSEPH LAJGAK, OF ERIE, COLORADO.

BASE-BALL MASK.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

PatentedApr. 10,1917.

Application filed May 29, 1916, Serial No. 100,586. Renewed March 7, 1917. Serial No. 153,166.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH LAJOAK, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at Erie, in the county of Veld and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bas e-Ball Masks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in base ball masks.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a protecting mask for the head of a base ball catcher whereby the head is completely protected from injury although the players vision is unobstructed.

A further object of the device is to provide a catchers mask that may be readily positioned and removed, that is light in weight and is easy and inexpensive to manufacture while affording complete protection to the wearer from being hit in the head during the playing of the game of base ball.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accom-.

panying drawings, and then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in its locked position, a releasing member thereof being shown by dotted lines in its adjusted position.

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken respectively upon lines II-II and TIIIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail perspective view of the latch arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the hinge connection, and,

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the releasable slip fastener.

The present device being'in the form of a I cage or mask adapted to inclose the head of the wearer, the same is constructed of two separated bands 10 and 11 connected together by a plurality of bars 12 while cross bars 13 are secured therebetween. The collar 11 is formed in two equal parts connected together at one side of the band by a suitable hinge 14 and at the opposite side by a retaining device in the form of a wire latch hook 15 adapted for reception within a transverse keeper slot 16 in the adjacent end of the said collar portion. A pin 17 attached by means of a chain 18 to the collar 11 is positionable through the hook 15 for retaining the latter through'the said slot.

The upper collar 10 is arranged with marginal beads 19 for receiving reinforcing wires 20, one of the same having a-projecting end 21 adapted for the reception within the open end of the adjacent bead 19, which reception is rendered possible by shortening the opposite wire end as: at 22.

A wire dome 23 is carried by the upper collar 10 tapering upwardly and centrally as at 2 1, the mask being adapted to rest with the collar 10 upon the head, and the collar 11 upon the shoulders of the wearer when operatively positioned, it being noted that the said collars as well as the dome 23 may be provided with a soft lining if desired.

The upper band 10 is tilted upwardly at the front so that the bars or guard members 12 at the rear of the mask are of less length than those at the forward portion while the rear bars 12 are provided with a single cross bar 13 which is shiftably mounted adapted to be forced upwardly toward the collar 10 to permit opening. of the mask upon releasing the latch hook 15 at which time the wire end 21 will also be released by separating the end portions of the collar 10. In this manner the mask may be readily positioned upon and removed from the head of the wearer.

The rear cross bar 13 has a loose or slip connection with all of the wires 12 to which same is connected, and when the hook 15 is disengaged from the slot 16 so that the ends of the band 11 may be sprung apart, the said bar 13 being shifted upwardly upon the inclined rear wires 12, to an are considerably less than that occupied by the bar 13 in its normal position, permitting the ends of band 11 where unfastened to be spread apart and the mask placed over the head. When thus positioned, the ends of the band 11 are brought together, and fastened, and the bar 13 drawn down until it tightens on the inclined wires 12. The fastening of the bar 13 to each wire 12 is of a slip form so that said bar will slide up and down on said wires 12. The band 10 is split at one side simply to permit the band 11 to spread apart when the ends are unfastened, the break in the band 1O being at any desired point. The bands 10 and 11 aswell as the it will be apparent that when the ends of band 11 are unfastened and wire 13' pushed up the band 11 will separate at the ends for some distance and allow the mask to be placed down over the head. When the ends of band 11 are again fastened, the slip joint in band 10 is brought together to any extent .desired, to make the same rest comfortably on the head of the wearer.

What I claim as new is 1. A head mask comprising an upper and a lower band, a wire dome carried by said upper band, upright bars connecting the two bands with the bars at the rear of the mask of less length than the bars at the front thereof, transverse bars carried by the said upright connecting bars, the transverse bar carried by the rear upright connecting upper band being of split formation, wire and socket connections for the end of said upper band, the said lower band being formed in two portions hinged together, and fastening means for securing the ends of said lower band together.

2. A head mask comprising an upper split band and a lower split band, the upper band being tilted upwardly at the front thereof, upright bars connected at their ends to said bands, means for securing the ends of the respective bands together, transverse bars carried by the upright bars at the front of the mask, and a transverse bar slidably mounted on the upright bars at the rear of the mask.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH LAJCAK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

